Ilian founded EMV Capital in 2018. After its acquisition by NetScientific PLC (now EMV Capital PLC), he became group CEO. Previously he co-founded and was CEO of CambridgeIP Ltd, which he built into a leading IP and patent strategy and data analytics provider in the UK and internationally. He also worked as a strategy advisor for various corporate clients. In the 1990s he co-led a family business in industrials and electric engineering in Southern Africa. He is a Board member on behalf of the Group at many portfolio companies, including , Glycotest Inc. (Chair), Sofant Technologies, PointGrab, Q-Bot, Martlet Capital, DName-iT, Vortex and Wanda Health (Chair). He is a Board member of NASDAQ-listed PDS Biotech Inc.

Ilian holds a PhD from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School with a focus on Venture Capital; Master’s in Economics from the Witwatersrand University, South Africa; and is a former Associate Fellow at Chatham House. He has authored numerous academic, policy and industry reports.